It's a Difficult Life

That was not the title of a classic movie--but it might have been. Jimmie Stewart (aka George Bailey) is surrounded from beginning to end by people who are (variously) mean, selfish, needy, thoughtless, careless, etc. He never gets what he really wants, but in the end, he is so miserable that simple acceptance seems like heaven.

And everyone loves this movie because Jimmie learns the lesson that seems to pursue us all--whether it comes from the Buddha or the Capra . . .

Desire is the enemy of contentment.

PS: From the double-bind department, though--how many people can you think of who are famous for their contentment? Get back to me. (And really, this post is not as unfizzy as it may seem.)

Who is famous for contentment?
All the Buddha's from Siddhartha to the Dalai Lama.
Now the Apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in all circumstances; however, his letters do not always portray a contented man.
I don't know whether Jimmy Buffet is content as he is wasting away in Margaritaville, but he does learn to take personal responsibility.
Elsie, famously, is a contented cow. We are not sure about her son Beauregard.
Speaking of cows, the Bluebell cows seem quite content.
Perhaps that Buddha of Baseball, Yogi Berra, has achieved a reputation for contentment.
But for real contentment who can surpass Winnie the Pooh!